Welcome New Ashburton Families

Welcome New Ashburton Families 2011-2012 School Year

Mrs. Charlene Garran – Principal • Ms. Barbara Cino – Assistant Principal • Mr. Paul Dowell - Teacher • Ms. Jordan Dunn - Teacher • Ms. Amy Hirsch - Teacher • Ms. Joanna Robbins – Teacher • Ms. Erin VanVoorhis – Teacher • Mrs. Yvette Killian – Special Education Teacher • Mrs. Janet Dunn, Acting Principal • Q while Mrs. Garran is on Maternity Leave Welcome!

The First Day • The first day of school is Monday, August 29th. We look forward to meeting and greeting your child. • During arrival that first morning, parents of kindergartners are welcome to join Mrs. Garran, Ms. Cino, the PTA, and others for Tea and Sympathy in the Media Center.

Kindergarten Name Tags • Please send your kindergartner with a NAME TAG. Your child should wear this tag for the first two weeks. It should have the following information: • An information card is helpful for all students who are not familiar with their new information. Students can keep this information in backpacks. • Name:_______________________ • Address: ____________________ • Teacher’s Name: ______________ • Phone Number#: ______________ • Bus Color/Number: _____________ • Walker / Car Rider: _____________ • Meet in the Gym Lobby, Breezeway, or Drop-Off Loop

Backpacks • Your child should have a BACKPACK with his/her name on it. It should be large enough to hold standard pocket sized folders. Your child will have a home/school folder in their backpack daily with important notices, newsletters and homework. Please empty the folder each night and send it back the following day.

Dress • Please dress your child casually and comfortably. We have active days planned. Kindergartners use paint, glue and play dough; and we’ll play outdoors. Clothes should be washable. • Sneakers are safer for active play and required for P.E. • The health tech has some spare clothes for the occasional emergency, however kindergartners may keep a set of clothes in a sealed plastic bag at the bottom of their backpack. Please keep it up to date in terms of size and season.  • NO HEELIES

Specials • Art • Music • PE – Physical Education • Computer Lab • Media Center • Chorus & Instrumental Music • Grades 4 & 5

Lost and Found • To help prevent lost belongings, please label all of your child’s possessions, including clothing (especially coats, jackets, sweaters, and vests). • Lost items are placed in the lost and found box located in a hallway closet outside of the APR. Parents are encouraged to check the lost and found box at anytime. 

Items to Keep at Home • All toys, candy and chewing gum should stay home. These are not allowed in school. • Cell phones, electronic devices, trading cards, and NO HEELIES!

Homework • MCPS policy states that homework is for reinforcing and practicing concepts learned in school. • Kindergartners will receive a quarterly homework calendar and it will be sent home in their folder. • Students will be assigned a weekly homework assignment to reinforce the skills taught during the week. This homework is not required to be returned. • Keep your child engaged at home. Kindergartners should work approximately 10 minutes per night to work on the objectives being taught in class to reinforce those skills. • Read, Read, Read! • Grades 1-5: • Usually assigned Monday-Thursday • Math, Reading, Spelling • Special Projects

Home Supplies • To complete homework students will need a place at home with some basic supplies: scissors, (Kindergarten-safety scissors) crayons/colored pencils, glue, tape, and extra paper.

Buses • If you do not live within walking distance to the school your child will ride a school bus. • The school bus is free! • Each bus has designated routes and bus stops that correlate to addresses. • Each bus is called a different color, however all the buses are actually yellow.  • On the first day of school please have your child ride the bus to school because he/she will get a sticker with their bus color on it when he/she exit which lets teachers know what color bus they ride.  • 5th grade patrols ride the bus with students and 4th grade students will escort students to their buses. • ALWAYS communicate with the teacher when there is any changes in the departure routine. • We have copies of the arrival and departure bus schedule. If you have any specific questions regarding bus stops and routes, see Marney Jacobs in the office. She is an expert! 

Bikes and Skateboards Students are permitted to travel to school on a bike or skateboard following the guidelines: • Students are responsible for locking bikes to the bike racks. Ashburton has two bike racks located in the front and back of the school. AshburtonES is not responsible for damaged, lost, or missing bikes. • Skateboards can be stored in the school office and retrieved during dismissal. • Students MUST not ride bikes or skateboards on school property. Students must walk the bike or skateboard once they are on school property. • Students should wear a safety helmet.

Lunch • We do offer hot lunch everyday at school. • Printed menus are sent home bi-monthly. Lunch menus are also posted on this website: http//www:montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/foodserve/menus/cafemenus.shtm • Each student is issued a four digit pin number that allows them to access their account. • Please make sure that you are monitoring your SNAP lunch account balance. You should deposit money into your account first thing in the morning or parents can send money in with students and it will be put into their account before lunch. Paying during your lunch time will only hold up the line. • You can use the computerized/prepayment system @ www.mylunchmoney.com/(This may take 1-2 days to activate.) • Students must have money in their account in order to buy hot lunch. • Lunch Prices: Breakfast – $1.30 / Lunch - $2.50 • There are two hot lunch items everyday for students to choose from or a cheese pocket.

For Example… • Monday, August 29th • Cheese Dippers w/ Marinara Sauce • Hamburger w/ Mixed Vegetables • Cheese Pocket • Tuesday, August 30th • Personal Pizza-Cheese or Pepperoni • Sliced Turkey w/Gravy & Mashed Potatoes • Cheese Pocket Milk Choices: White, Fat Free White, Fat Free Chocolate, Fat Free Strawberry

Ashburton Expectations • We expect Ashburton Stars to focus on learning. • We expect Ashburton Stars to respect everyone. • We expect Ashburton Stars to solve problems appropriately. • We expect Ashburton Stars to think before they act. • We expect Ashburton Stars to use their hands for helping. • We expect Ashburton Stars to listen and follow directions. • We expect Ashburton Stars to be kind to others every day.

Allergies • If your child has any allergies (food or otherwise) please notify your child’s teacher and the health room in writing immediately! • Since children will be eating a snack daily in the classroom it is even more important that we are aware of all allergies. • (Snack time varies in Grades 1-5)

Snacks • Your child will have a daily afternoon snack in Kindergarten. • Please provide your child with 1 healthy dry snack each day. Teachers will not provide snacks. • Examples of healthy dry snacks are: one piece of fruit, one granola bar or one snack sized baggie of dry cereal. • Please do not send in a special drink for snack time. Students are permitted to use the water fountain. • Please do not put the snack in lunch bags. Students often eat these snacks as lunch items and then they are without a snack in the afternoon.

Report Cards/Conferences • The parent conferences will be held on November 10th and 11th. There will be sign-up sheets for appointment times at Back-to-School Night. • Kindergarten report cards go home twice a year: February and June. • Grades 1-5 report cards go home quarterly You will learn more about Standards Based Grading and Reporting during Back to School Night.

Birthdays • We do not have birthday parties for the students in school; however, your child may bring a special book to share with the class. Teachers will make this day very special for your child. • If your child has a summer birthday they may bring a book to share on his/her ½ birthday. Please coordinate dates with the classroom teacher. • We recognize birthdays on the morning announcements. Students are excited to come to the office for their birthday surprise in the morning.  • Student are not permitted to distribute invitations to individual students, unless they invite ALL students in the class. • Grades 1-5: • Please see teacher for guidelines regarding birthdays.

Parties • We have two class parties each year – • Halloween and Valentine’s Day • Room parents help organize the classroom parties. ALL parents are welcome to volunteer! Please coordinate with the room parent. • There is always an alternative party option if your child does not celebrate Halloween or Valentine’s Day. Please inform the classroom teacher if your child will not participate in the party. Note: • All snacks/food MUST be store-bought! • Please work with the teacher on specific treats/food items as we have many students with allergies.

Half-Days • Dismissal is at 12:35. It is very important your child’s teacher knows where your child is going on half-days. Please provide a note to the teacher if your child is not going to leave school the way they do for a normal dismissal. • Please make sure your paperwork in the office is update because your child can not be released to anyone that you have not given permission to on the release form.

Attendance • Student success in school is directly tied to daily attendance. Students needing to leave school early need a note from their parent or guardian. For security reasons, you MUST always sign your child in and out of the school building when arriving or departing at a time other than the scheduled arrival and dismissal times. • When your child is absent, please call the office at 301-571-6959 by 9:30 a.m. to let us know. You can also email the teacher and Dana Lynch, attendance secretary. (Dana_R_Lynch@mcpsmd.org) • When a child returns to school following an absence, s/he must always bring a dated note from a parent or guardian stating the reason for the absence.

Daily Arrival Routines • School doors open at 8:30 a.m. and students may sit in the hallways until the first bell. Students may not enter the school prior to 8:30 a.m. • The first bell rings at 8:40a.m. and students may enter the classrooms. • The second bell rings at 8:50 a.m. and morning announcements begin. The back door will be locked at this time and you must enter through the front doors. • If you arrive after 8:50 a.m. you are considered TARDY. You must stop by the office, be signed in by a parent and get a late pass. It is essential to the instructional program that all students are on time for school each day. If your child is absent for any reason, please call the office and notify them that your child will be out and write a note and send it with your child the date of his/her return. • - When visiting or volunteering, always sign-in and wear a visitor sticker. • - Kiss and Say Goodbye Procedures- • Say goodbye to your child at the front door. Parents should not walk students to class unless they check in at the main office and get a visitor’s badge. This is primarily for safety purposes. Morning arrival is not a time for parent-teacher conferences as they need to have their 100% attention on the students. We appreciate your cooperation with our procedures at Ashburton.

Daily Dismissal Routines Please send a note granting permission for any schedule changes, including: • Child to go home with Grandparent or another adult, per your request. • Child to go home with a friend on another bus or via other modes of transportation – BOTH children MUST have a note. • Play-dates should be scheduled in advance of the school day. • CHILDREN MUST HAVE A NOTE AND GIVE IT TO THE TEACHER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING OR THEY MUST GO HOME PER THE REGULAR ROUTE! • *Please refrain from sending emails during the day to inform the teacher of a change in a dismissal routine. In case of an emergency, contact the office so the teacher is notified immediately. It is always best to copy the office, Dana Lynch or Marney Jacobs, on these emails to ensure that the teacher receives the message.

Walkers / Car Riders • Please instruct your children to use a walking route that ensures safety. • Walkers and Car Riders who are met by adults will meet in the Gym Lobby or ‘Breezeway’ and be released to their parents or others with permission. You should have a plan in advance and communicate the plan with your child. Please mark the index card with Gym Lobby or Breezeway as a meeting place during dismissal. If you would like your child to meet you at the Drop-Off Loop, please also state this information on the index card. • Please make sure you are there promptly for pick-up at 3:05 p.m.; supervision is available until 3:15 p.m. and then students will be sent to the office. • Students who are to walk home by themselves should leave the building and walk directly home after school. Please discuss this with your child. • Please discuss weather emergency procedures with your child. • Name:_______________________ • Address: ____________________ • Teacher’s Name: ______________ • Phone Number#: ______________ • Bus Color/Number: _____________ • Walker/Car Rider: _____________ • Meet in the Gym Lobby, Breezeway, or Drop-Off Loop

Parking • Ashburton has limited parking and one entrance for buses. To protect the safety of the students, the driveway is blocked to auto traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and from 2:45 to 3:25 p.m. Only buses may enter to drop-off or pick-up. • The drop-off in the rear of the building off Pomona Drive has been constructed to help alleviate the congestion in the front of the school. You may drop-off or pick-up students there or park and walk in. The doors will be locked after 8:50 a.m.; students who arrive after that time should not be dropped off at this location since they would have to walk around the building to enter. Walkers or children who are to be picked up can be met at this drop-off loop in the afternoon.

Drop-Off Loop Guidelines It is important that everyone follow the drop-off guidelines for picking students up at the end of the day. The guidelines have been established for the SAFETY of students. Drop-off Loop Guidelines: • Drive slowly for everyone’s SAFETY. • Pull up to the end of the loop. You may not stay in the middle spot even if you are the first to arrive. • Stay in queue and once your vehicle is loaded, then you may slowly and safely pull into the left lane to exit the loop. It is not fair for parents to pull in and out of spots while other parents have been waiting in line. • Do not double-park and ask students to run across a line of cars to board your car. This was happening way too often and is completely an unsafe practice. • Do not park and leave your car in the drop-off lane. If you need to park, please use the spaces provided or the road.

Drop-Off Loop Guidelines (Continued) • If you park in the spaces, you must get out of your vehicle to escort your child across the lot. Please do not wave your children across the street to your car. Back out carefully as other cars queue up along the drop-off lane. • Refrain from delaying the queue by using your cell phone or other things during pick-up. • Ashburton’s staff and patrols are there to assist in arrival and dismissal; however, they are not to cross the parking lot nor wait with your child after 3:15 p.m. Students that are not picked up by 3:15 p.m. will asked to wait in the main office. If staff is giving you a direction, it is only because they are looking out for your child’s safety. Please be respectful. We truly appreciate your cooperation! • If you are not able to follow these guidelines, please park and pick up your child from the gym area. Any parents that are available to help with supervision during dismissal time, please contact the main office. Your support would be greatly appreciated! I know you would agree that we all want to create a safe environment for our students. Please help us create that safe environment and follow the safety guidelines during dismissal time. Thank you for your cooperation! Ashburton Staff, Parents, & Students

Weather Delays • Please listen to the radio or TV for weather delays and school closings. • MCPS also posts the announcement online at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ • Email Alerts: Subscribe to MCPS Newsfeed to receive alerts to your computer about early dismissals, emergencies, and other news. http//www:montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/newsfeed/

Field Trips • Field trips are an important part of the instructional program of each class. Students will go on different field trips throughout the year. • When a field trip approaches, teachers will send home a permission slip form and ask for chaperones. Written permission from a parent or guardian is required for a child to attend. Parent chaperones aid the teacher with supervision on these outings; however, regulations prohibit siblings from attending. • There is usually a fee for bus transportation; often there is also an admission fee. Financial assistance is offered by the PTA through Mrs. Gillespie, counselor, for those children in need; please contact Mrs. Gillespie directly.

Safety Drills • Evacuate (Fire Drills) • Shelter • Lockdown • Tornado Drills Safety System:CamerasComputerized Sign-In

MCPS Curriculum 2.0 • Ashburton Elementary School is using the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Curriculum 2.0: Elementary Integrated Curriculum (EIC) in Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade. Curriculum 2.0 includes the same rigorous content as the current MCPS curriculum with several upgrades. • MCPS Curriculum 2.0 is built around developing students' critical and creative thinking skills, as well as essential academic success skills, so that students are well prepared for a lifetime of learning. We are upgrading the existing MCPS curriculum for the elementary grades in a way that will better engage students and teachers, and dedicate more learning time to subjects such as the arts, information literacy, science, social studies and physical education. By blending these subjects with the core content areas of reading, writing, and mathematics, students will receive robust, engaging instruction across all subjects in the early grades. In short, we are building a stronger foundation at the elementary level. • MCPS Website for Curriculum 2.0: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/2.0/ • Reading Assessments (mClass Testing) • Fall, Winter, Spring • Goal: Level 4/6 or higher  • Differentiation • Small Group Instruction (Reinforce, Re-teach, Enrichment)

Kindergarten Stars of the Week • A different student in each class is recognized every week. Every student SHINES at Ashburton! • Students will design a poster like the one displayed to the right. Students should bring in pictures and complete an ‘All About Me’ poster, which will be displayed in the hallway. • Students will be announced on AETV by Mrs. Gillespie. Students will come to the office for a TQ Star certificate and to have their picture taken to be posted on the TQ Star Wall. • Students will join Mrs. Garran, Ms. Cino, Mrs. Gillespie, teachers, and staff for a special TQ Star luncheon that month.

Ashburton Elementary School – A Great Place to Learn! • Differentiated Instruction: • Reading Initiative – Grades 1 & 2 • Small Group Instruction • Departmentalization in Grades 3, 4, 5 • After School Activities • School & PTA Sponsored • Parent Involvement • Student Recognition • Birthday Announcements • TQ Stars (Top Quality Stars) • Weekly Announcements, Pictures, Awards & Monthly Luncheon with Administration and Mrs. Gillespie • Kindergarten Stars of the Week • End of the Year Awards in Special Areas http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/ashburtones/

PTA Parent Teacher Association • President: Kathy Rose • Co-Administrative Vice Presidents:SonaliArurkar & Marci Norton • Co-Membership Vice Presidents: Veronica Walgamotte & Wendy Calhoun • Treasurer: Mark Schulhof • Secretary: Jennifer Luna

Welcome New Ashburton Families